Lyric Opera of Chicago is set to put two certified Deaf interpreters near the stage for the Sunday, October 18 matinee of Mozart's “Don Giovanni,” translating the Italian-language opera's dialogue and lyrics live into American Sign Language. The company says the 2 p.m. performance will mark the first time a major American opera company has presented a foreign-language opera with live ASL interpretation.
According to Lyric Opera of Chicago, the milestone performance falls within the production's eight-show run, which stretches from Oct. 10 through Nov. 1, 2026, as detailed by BroadwayWorld. Certified Deaf interpreters Joshua Castille and Veramarie Baldoza are expected to translate the performance live, with all dialogue and lyrics rendered into ASL by the two interpreters stationed near the stage. ABC7 Chicago also reported on the milestone, noting that Lyric has offered ASL interpretation for English-language operas before but not for a work in another language.
Castille, who is also an actor and one of the ASL interpreters for the production, discussed the production in an interview; his remarks were communicated through sign language and interpreted by another person. The report described the interpreters' goal as helping all audience members share the same emotional experience — laughing and crying at the same moments as hearing patrons.
Full Accessibility Slate for the Oct. 18 Matinee
Beyond the live signing, Lyric's October 18 matinee will bundle in a noon Touch Tour, audio description and SoundShirts, per the same BroadwayWorld account. The SoundShirt, as Lyric Opera of Chicago explains on its own site, uses touch sensation to let wearers feel music from the orchestra and singers on their upper body in real time. The company is also rolling out new Auracast assistive-listening technology across the full eight-performance run and into the season that follows, the outlet reported.
Lyric's October 18 matinee will feature sign-language interpretation. English titles are projected above the stage for “Don Giovanni.” ABC7 Chicago's report noted that tickets remained available for the Oct. 18 performance at the time of its reporting.
A Production Rooted in Lyric's Own History
Robert Falls directs Lyric's current staging of “Don Giovanni.”
John Mangum, General Director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, leads the company. ABC7 Chicago's report also described Lyric as recognizing Chicago's Deaf community and that community's desire to be involved in the artistic process and to see work like this brought to the city. Lyric held a preview of the production Tuesday.
Part of a Broader Push for Deaf Access to Opera
Chicago's own Goodman Theatre already offers one ASL-interpreted performance for each production in its regular season, with interpreters positioned near the stage, according to Goodman Theatre. Efforts to blend signing with opera performance have also surfaced elsewhere in recent years, including a 2017 project examined by OperaWire on how signing and singing together could transform the opera experience for Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, and reporting by C-VILLE Weekly on Deaf-centered opera performances.
The October 18 performance brings together projected English translations, SoundShirt technology and ASL interpretation. Audience members heading to the Lyric Opera House that Sunday will find the Touch Tour, audio description and ASL interpretation all available within the same afternoon, alongside the new Auracast rollout the company is introducing for the run.
